#England #Kent #Military #Tilmanstone #WWI
Arthur William Edward DIXON was the youngest of five children born to William DIXON (1845 – 1927), a Market Gardener, and Maria HAMBROOK (1845 – 1927).
William’s family seems to have stayed around the Eastry District apparently living in Eastry, Tilmanstone and Eythorne parishes. Maria’s family were more found around East Langdon and West Langdon it would appear.
They got married 03 November 1875 at the Parish Church in St Margaret’s at Cliffe with it being registered Q4 1875 in Dover District, Kent. They were both aged 30.
Arthur was the only boy in the family having four older sisters although sadly one died as a toddler before he was born. They were Annie Maria DIXON (1876 – 1960), Bessie Mary DIXON (1878 – 1963), Edith Emma DIXON (1882 -1885) and Lizzie Sarah DIXON (1883 – 1952)
In the 1881 Census his parents and eldest sisters are living in Lower Street, Tilmanstone. They also have Maria’s young niece there with them. This may have been that it was easiest for her to look after two 3-year-olds whilst her sister Mary was in the latter stages of pregnancy.
There are then two more girls born with Edith passing away aged 3. A year later Arthur was born on 21 March 1886 in Tilmanstone with his birth being registered Q2 1886 in Eastry District. He was baptised 30 May 1886 at Tilmanstone.
Arthur’s sister Annie is not with the rest of the family in the 1891 Census because she is off visiting her cousins at Vine Farm, Northbourne. The others are found still in Lower Street, Tilmanstone. He is aged 5 and all the children are attending school.
In the 1901 Census this time his sister is not there because of her age. Now at 24 she is employed as a Serving Maid for a household in Eastbourne. Being one of 7 servants listed it must have been a sizeable house.
[One large house which could possibly be it as opposite numbers 15, 19 etc is sadly looking very shabby per Google Maps, June 2019. There is a redevelopment of a block of flats further down the road known as 20 Upperton Road but they could have renumbered some of them or it had large grounds.]
The others are still together at what seems to be part of the area of Tilmanstone called Doves Corner which is just along from Lower Street. Arthur, at 15, is listed as a Gardener, presumably for his father, and they have a Servant [employee] with them in the same role.
By 1911 Arthur is the only one living at home still. He is now a 25-year-old Market Gardener who seems to be working with his father with them both having Employer status this time. They are living at Holmesdale in Tilmanstone which is in Doves Corner so quite possibly have not moved but just more specific detail being recorded.
He became an uncle again in 1911 and 1913 thanks to Lizzie. She presumably missed his wedding as around the same time period as in Q3 1913 he married Annie Rose ELWELL (TBA – TBA) in Reigate District, Surrey.
Not sure how he would have met Annie presuming she came from that area. [Someone’s family tree on Ancestry implies she was born in Dudley, Staffordshire and ultimately ended up living in Australia].
Arthur and Annie were both in their mid to late 20s. Either they moved to St Mary’s Grove, Tilmanstone or this is yet another slight variation on the original place.
Regarding Arthur’s military career we have evidence that in the 1914 – 1918 war he was a Private in the 8th Battalion of The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. His service number was 205297 1. He enlisted in Dover, Kent on 31 March 1916 after asking for and being given a 3-month exemption. I assume this would have been based on his occupation.
In some military records he seems to have Edwin instead of Edward as third name. He was supposedly killed in action on 03 August 1917 having passed away from his injuries before reaching the medical post. But in other places the date he died is given as 04 October 1917.
This appears to be the link to the above excerpt http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=598.200;wap2. but it is now obsolete. There is some of the same detail for him noted at the Faded Genes 2 website.
He is commemorated at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals 3. His two eldest sisters were the executrixes of his will.
In the Dover Express, dated 14 October 1921, is a page dedicated to the Tilmanstone War Memorial being unveiled. The notation on his family’s wreath is “In loving memory of Arthur Dixon, from Father, Mother and Sisters”.
The rest of the family must have picked up the pieces and continued their lives. His wife remarried on 02 April 1919 and became Mrs PIERCE and moved to Fir Cottage, Tilmanstone.
Don’t believe she had any children with Arthur but seems three children from this second marriage. She also seems to be referred to as Annie Rose DUHURST [DEWHURST?] on pension form but unable to access that without subscription to check if a mistype.
We know Lizzie went on to have 4 more children by the end of 1923 making it 11 in total. Annie married in London during Q3 1926 but not sure she had any offspring.
Not sure what Bessie got up to with her life but maybe she looked after the parents who passed away on 06 January 1927 and 10 January 1927 respectively. William had been bedridden for 5 years but still resided in Holmesdale. They were both 81 and had a double funeral 4 according to the Dover Express of 14 January 1927.
Arthur William Edward DIXON was a 2x Great Uncle to me on my paternal line. I have several DNA matches on Ancestry with descendants of the family.
The nearest shared ancestors are my Great Grandparents Edward John ELGAR (1882 – 1956) and Lizzie Sarah DIXON (1883 – 1952).
Footnotes –
Most research undertaken using Ancestry, FreeBMD and Google Maps. Additional resources listed below if utilised.
- Forces War Records –
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/1441204/private-arthur-william-edward-dixon-british-army-queens-royal-west-surrey-regiment/ – ↩︎ - Faded Genes – http://www.fadedgenes.co.uk/ArthurDIXON.html ↩︎
- Forces War Records – https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/15308711/private-arthur-w-e-dixon-the-queens-regiment/ ↩︎
- British Newspaper Archives – https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ ↩︎